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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
66
Features
84
Overall
73

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF7
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-3
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

Following is a thorough overview of the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax K-3 II, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the GF8 (16MP) and K-3 II (24MP) and the GF8 (Four Thirds) and K-3 II (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF8 was launched 10 months after the K-3 II and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the GF8 grades versus the K-3 II in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Pentax K-3 II

 GF8 K-3 II 
RevealedFebruary 2016April 2015More modern by 10 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k1037kClearer display (+3k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Panasonic GF8

 K-3 II GF8 
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-3 II

 GF8 K-3 II 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF8 features physical dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

See the Panasonic GF8 versus Pentax K-3 II in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the GF8 compared to the K-3 II.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GF8 and K-3 II is 90 and 59 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The picture below might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF8 and K-3 II.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GF8 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh tougher and the Pentax K-3 II will give more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The newer GF8 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Portrait photography factors
65
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
can't use external flash
79
has manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Street photography info
Pentax K-3 II Street photography info
80
tilting screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Sports photography information
Pentax K-3 II Sports photography information
49
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/500s)
max fps very slow (5.8 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (230 shots)
has no phase detect AF
76
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
weather sealing
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography factors
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography factors
66
comes with focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery (230 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
56
weather sealing
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
not so great battery (720 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography info
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography info
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good MP (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low battery (230 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
does not have anti aliasing filter
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
not so great battery (720 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 II as a Vlogging camera
33
touch screen
supports face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external mic port
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has mic jack
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Panasonic GF8 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Pentax K-3 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Pentax K-3 II
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-02-15 2015-04-23
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 25600 51200
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 107 151
Crop factor 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/500 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.60 m (at ISO 200) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 266 gr (0.59 pounds) 800 gr (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.6
DXO Low light score not tested 1106
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 720 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 2
Pricing at launch $549 $829